Device for teaching time and rhythm



Dec. 2, 1952 p MOORE ETAL 2,619,868

DEVICE FOR TEACHING TIME AND RHYTHM Filed July 17, 1950 2 SI-iEETS-SHEET 1 Eel.

-x IN VEN TORS I 29 w I p/l//p D. M0095 2G JOSEPH F. 40/54/4445 077'02NEHS Dec. 2, 1952 P. D. MOORE ETAL DEVICE FOR TEACHING TIME AND RHYTHM Filed July 17, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 FIG-6.

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INVENTORS PH/l/ D. M0025 qose F. 40/44/9/45 OTTOQNEHS Patented Dec. 2, 1952 DEVICE FOR TEACHING TIME AND RHYTHM Philip D. Moore and Joseph F. Williams, Huntington Park, Calif.

Application July 17, 1950, Serial No. 174,252

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to apparatus for teaching rhythm and timing in the study of music.

The apparatus shown and described herein features a pointer which is moved relative to lines of printed music and is simultaneously bobbed up and down in timed relationship to realistically portray the up and down beats of music being scanned by the pointer. One species of this apparatus as shown herein incorporates a solenoid actuated mechanism to produce the bobbing, such solenoid actuated mechanism, upon operation, producing an audible sound simulating the sound produced by conventional metronames.

It is therefore an obiect of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus of this character wherein a pointer moved relative to printed music for scanning the same, simultaneously bobs to indicate the beats.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus of this character which emits an audible sound to indicate audibly the beats.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new device for teaching time in music so as to produce an effect whereby the pupil may perceive the instant to begin each note and the instant to leave off and begin the next note.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved device of this character arranged to correctly indicate not only when each note is to be played but also the length of time during which the notes of various values are to be sounded.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved device of the character mentioned in the preceding paragraph characterized by the fact that the information is im arted through the sense of seeing as well as hearing.

The features of the present invent on which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularitv in the appended claims. This invention itself, both as to its organization and manner of operation. together with further ob ects and advantages thereof. may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: I

Figure l is a view in front elevation of apparatus embodying features of the present inven- '-tion but with the encircling base cover removed Figure 6 is a view similar to the view shown in Figure 1 but of a modified structure,

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line L-l of Figure 6,

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the electrical insulated toothed contact members shown in Figure 6 for eiiecting a recurrent energization of the associated solenoid, and

Figure 9 is an electrical circuit diagram showing the manner in which the solenoid I0! is adapted to be energized.

The apparatus shown in Figures 1-5 is a unitary structure with a base I0 having mounted thereon a sheet music supporting structure H for supporting the sheet music 12 in aligned relationship with the series of four pointers l4, I5, I6, I l which are caused to scan corresponding lines [2A, IZB, I2C and [2D of the music printed on sheet I 2. One of the characteristic features of the present invention is that these pointers I 4, 15, I6 and I! are caused to bob, 1. e., move vertical simultaneously as they scan the printed music, i. e., move horizontally. Such bobbing of the pointers I 4, I5, I 6 and il in the arrangement shown in Figures 1-5 is produced mechanically, whereas electrical solenoid operated means are used for the same purpose in the arrangement shown in Figures 6-9 inclusive.

Each of these pointers l4, l5, l5 and Il are mounted as shown in Figure 5 on a vertical rod (corresponding to rod 14A) which is slidably mounted in the vertically extending tube (corresponding to the tube 14B), the lower end of such tube being affixed to a corresponding traveling plate MC, I5C, 5C and HC, which are affixed by means of bolts 20 to an endless chain 2! at spaced intervals therealong. The particular manner of attachment of these traveling carriage plates is perhaps best seen in Figure 3, wherein a pair of metal angle plates 22, 23 have one of their legs apertured to receive the bolts 20 and the other one of their legs apertured to receive the rivet pin 24 passing through a cylindrical apertured portion of the chain 2|.

The pointer rods associated with each one of the pointers l4, l5, l6 and IT, as exemplified by the rod MA in Figure 5, are pin connected at each of their lower ends to an associated pivoted cam member MD, 151), IED and 11D. These cams are pin connected to their respective plates NC, SC, and HC and cooperate with a stationary rack 26 mounted on the base I 0, these pivoted cams being spring urged downwardly in cooperating engagement with the rack 26 by corresponding coil compression springs as represented by the coil compression springs 15E and IBE in Figure 1. It is observed that these springs have one of their ends abutting the corresponding cams [5D, IBD and their other ends abutting a portion of plates I50, IGC, respectively.

In order to prevent undue movement of the 3 associated traveling plates [4G, C, 560, I70 while the corresponding cam moves over the rack 26, there is provided a track 27 in the form of a flat horizontal bar tapered at its opposite ends and stationarily supported by means of bolts 2.8

on the spaced U-shaped bracket members til, 4!.

The horizontal parallel edges of this track 2? cooperate with a pair of small rollers 253 rotatably' mounted on the corresponding plate as represented by the plate SC in Figure 3. The pointers move from left to right in Figure 1, and desirably the leading end of the track 21 is tapered as indicated at 21A to take care of any mechanical misalignment in which. casethis tapered end 21A serves to cam .the plate moving into engagement therewith into :a centered position.

It is observed thatthe rack 25 extends horizontally a distance substantially equal to the length of a line of printedmu'sic, and is disposed b'elow'the same so as to impart a bobbing movement to the pointers'when and as the. correspondingpointer travels adjacent the printed lines in its scanning movement.

The endless chain 2! travels over a pair of spaced supporting sprocket wheels 353, 3!, the wheel '30 being merely anidler wheel but supported in the associated bearing 32 mounted on the base ill. for rotation about a vertical axis. The other wheel 31 isthe driving wheel and is supported on the axle 3d which has its opposite ends journaled for rotation about a vertical in the bearings 36, 31 mounted respectively on the top stationary plate 38 and on the base plate Ill. The top plate 38 is supported on the base plate ID by means of the spaced U-shaped brack- The shaft 3 5 has mounted thereon the gear 42 associated with a disengageable worm gear 53 driven by a motor-gearbox assembly enclosed within the housing 4 This housing Miis mounted for pivotal movementabout the axis or the pivot pin 45 mounted on the base :plate SB and is biased upwardly in Figure 2 by the coil tension spring 4'! having one of its ends afiixed to such housing M and the other one of its ends affixed to the stationary bracket member fill, whereby the worm gear 43 is biased thereby into cooperating engagement with the gear 42 on shaft 34 to efiect driving of the same.

In order to disestablish the driving connection between worm gear 33 and gear 42, a manually operable handle 68 extending up above the top plate 38 is provide to cause the housing 34 to pivot about its pivot pin 45 carrying with it the worm gear 43 extending outwardly from such housing. For this purpose the handle 48 is pivotally mounted by, means of pivot pin 59 on the top plate 38 and has an apertured crank arm- 5! extending therefrom for receiving one end of a link 52, the other end of the link 52 being afiixed 'to the housing 44 so that when the handle 38 is turned clockwise in Figure 2 the worm gear is is moved out of engagement with its associated gear 42.

While the wormgear 53 is thus held out of engagement with the gear 42 the shaft 34 .may be turned manually by turning the knob 53 mounted on the shaft 34, whereby any one of the pointers I4, l5, l5 and 1? may be manually moved into a so that the pointers are moved upwardly and contact members H36, 10?.

'4 downwardly in one upbea and downbeat of the music printed on sheet l2. .In such case the initial upward movement of the pointer corresponds to the upbeat and the subsequent downward movement of the pointer corresponds to the downbeat. Such upward and downward movement of the pointers is, of course, simultaneous with its horizontal movement. Preferably the inclined edges forming the teeth on the rack 26 are made as steep as possible whereby such upward and downward movement of the pointers is abrupt. The mechanical arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 5 for producing such upward and downward movement o'f the indicating pointers, however, imposes limitations as to the steepness of the edges defining such toothed portions of the rack. For example, such inclined portions .may .not .be vertical since in such case the cam member ltDwould have no inclined surfaceon which to ride upwardly. For that reason the arrangement shown in Figures 6-9 is preferred, inasmuch as the-corresponding rack lzfi-(Figure 6) may have square teeth instead of trapezoidal shaped teeth as shown in Figure 1.

In the arrangement shown in Figures 6-9 the structure is identical as described above in connection with Figures 1-5, but instead 01 the pointers being bobbed by a mechanical cam and rack arrangement, the pointers are bobbed by energizing an associated solenoid. Thus, the corresponding parts in the various figures shown herein haveidentical reference numerals.

Referring to Figure '7, it is observedthat the pointer rods, as exemplified by the rod 16A, instead of being linked to .a pivoted cam (such as the cam 151) in Figure 1) the rod 15A in Figure 7 has mounted thereon a magnetic core H39 disposed within the solenoid Winding 191., such winding H3] beingsecured to the plate 1500f insulating material by means of bolts 1.92 and bracket 103.. The. plate 16C is secured to the chain 2! in thesame manner as shown in Figure 3, namely, by providing the. angle pieces .22, 23 Withiapertured portions in each one of their legs through which the fastening bolts IE2 and rivet 24 pass. a Also mounted on the traveling plate, as exemplified by plate 160, is the electrical spring contact 194 arranged to cooperate with the squareshaped teeth on the insulated rack member 26, the contact [M and rack I ZGthus serving as a circuit interrupter or switch for period-ically making and breaking the electrical circuit When and as the plate 16C moves in a horizontal direction. 7

A similar spring contact member I05 (Figure 7) also mounted on the plate 160 is adapted'to cooperate with the pair of identical and staggered The contact :member Ill-5 cooperates with the first contact member 106,

in the form of a rack, to provide one switch 105,

switch 1%, is of significance and is serially connected with the associated solenoid winding ill! to recurrently energiz and deenergize the same. When the solenoid winding lfll .is energized, of course, the core member I00 is moved upwardly, and subsequently when the solenoid Hll is deenergized the core member I00 is allowed to fall by gravity and contact the bracket I03 to produce a desirable sound. Thus, when the contact member I04 initially engages one of the square teeth on the rack member I26, the solenoid winding IliI is energized, and this corresponds to the upbeat. The indicator pointer remains at its elevated position while the contact member moves across the upper face of the square tooth, and when and after it leaves the trailing edge of the square tooth the switch I04, I 26 is opened to thereby allow the pointer to drop in its downbeat; and at the end of the downbeat a sound is emitted when the core i0! strikes the ledge I03.

It is understood that the motor-gearbox assembly as represented at 44 in Figure 2 may take difierent forms and shapes, and the one shown herein is merely exemplary of those others which may be used in equivalent manner. It is also understood that the electric driving motor may have its speed varied or adjusted to increase or decrease speed of the chain 2| which it drives. Such motor speed control devices are well known in the art and may, for example, in those instances Where the motor is a direct current type of motor, change the speed by changing the amount of current flowing through the field coils; or, in the case of an alternating current motor, speed changes may be effected by increasing or decreasing the amount of the voltage applied to the input terminals of the motor.

The space between the base plate ill and upper plate 38 (Figure 7) may be enclosed by a decorative protective oval shaped casing I II}, with an internal oval shaped flange I IIlA adapted to rest on the upper surface of the base plate I0.

While the switch I04, I26 is shown herein as a spring contact member moving in a substantially straight line over a plurality of square contact members disposed along the edge of the rack member I26, it is clear that the present invention is not limited to this specific type of switch. As a matter of fact, this switch may take other forms and shapes. For example, it may comprise a contact member mounted on either one of the sprockets 30, 3| arranged to pass over a series of relatively stationary contact members disposed on the arc of a circle.

While the particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifi cations as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

We claim:

1. In a device of the character described, an indicator, means moving said indicator along substantially a horizontal line adjacent lines of printed music to scan the same, and means actuated upon operation of the first mentioned means for imparting an up and down generally vertical movement to said indicator while being moved along said horizontal line.

2. In a device of the character described, an indicator movable generally in a horizontal direction to scan printed musical notes, means moving said indicator horizontally, said indicator being mounted for vertical movement on said means, a mechanical rack bar extending generally parallel with the path of movement of said indicator, said means having mounted thereon a cam member cooperatively associated with said rack and said indicator to produce a bobbing movement of said indicator upon operation of said means.

3. In a device of the character described, a base member having mounted thereon a holder for printed music, a pair of sprockets mounted on said base, a chain passing over said sprockets and being driven by one of said sprockets, a series of spaced members on said chain, said members being spaced a distance substantially equal to the length of a line of music intended to be held by said holder, each of said members having an indicator mounted thereon for vertical movement, said indicators being movable in a generally horizontal direction, and means recurrently moving said indicators in a vertical direction in timed relationship with movement of said chain.

4. In a device of the character described, music scanning means, said scanning means being movable generally horizontally, an endless carrier mounting said scanning means for movement in a generally horizontal direction, an indicator mounted on said scanning means for movement in a generally vertical direction, and means recurrently moving said indicator in a vertical direction in timed relationship with movement of said endless carrier.

5. The invention defined in claim 4 characterized by the fact that the last mentioned means comprises a horizontally extending rack with a cooperating pawl, said pawl being connected to said indicator.

6. The invention defined in claim 4 characterized by the fact that said last mentioned means comprises a solenoid actuated mechanism energized recurrently in timed relationship with movement of said endless carrier to impart a recurrent vertical movement to said indicator.

7. In a device of the character described: scanning means, said scanning means being movable generally horizontally, means mounting said scanning means for movement in a generally horizontal direction, an indicator mounted on said scanning means for movement in a generally vertical direction, and means recurrently moving said indicator in a vertical direction in timed relationship with movement of said mounting means.

8. In a device of the character described, an indicator movable generally in a horizontal direction to produce scanning movement, first means moving said indicator horizontally, said indicator being mounted for vertical movement on said first means, second means extending generally parallel with the path of movement of said indicator, said second means having mounted thereon third means cooperatively associated with said second means and said indicator to produce a bobbing movement of said indicator upon operation of said first means.

9. The arrangement set forth in claim 6 in which said indicator comprises a pointer mounted on a rod which slides in a vertical tube, said vertical tube being moved horizontally with said scanning means.

PHILIP D. MOORE. JOSEPH F. WILLIAMS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

